Agenda item

To consider a repot which outlined the measures which have been taken by BCP Council to address issues arising from seasonal visitors to the resort. This report summarises the approach taken, the Tactical Plan and the steps taken to date, the experience of implementation so far and considers next steps in BCPs seasonal response.

This report has been requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Board in response to the update received from the Portfolio Holder on Tourism, Leisure and Culture.

There will be a presentation led by the Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture with support from relevant officers.

The Chairman introduced the report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these minutes in the Minute Book, and outlined the reasons why the report had been brought to the Board. The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture gave a presentation to the Board including the key points on the plans for the summer season. In the subsequent discussion a number of points were raised by the Board including:

·       It was noted that although the weather had not been very good up to this point there would be a time in the future when the deluge of visitors would come and there were a number of issues to address this outline in the plan.

·       There has been a soft run to test principles of tactical plan and an opportunity for delivery over the Easter period, although visitor numbers had remained relatively low.

·       The plans would be in place for the period from the end of June to the beginning September, but it was explained that the necessity for them would be very much weather dependent.

·       A Councillor asked about the level of additional provision and how much of extra provision there was, whether it was enough to carry on to the following year. It was noted that the funding was limited and was being monitored though the logging of where deployment had been used and an assessment of the effectiveness of deployment.

·       Data on visitor numbers was being kept under constant review, which would enable deploying force to ensure safety of visitors where necessary.

·       A Councillor asked where, within the Tactical plan were things currently with the 2021 delivery. It was noted that there was a significant challenge to manage the litter collection as it requires lorries accessing the seafront but things were currently on track for the current delivery.

·       In response to a question regarding the number of officers in traffic enforcement and whether it was sufficiently staffed. It was noted that recruitment was underway but there was now provision in place to tow away vehicles if they were parked dangerously or causing obstructions.

·       A park and ride service was being introduced and it would have its initial trial on the end of May bank holiday weekend.

·       It was discussed that the actions outlined in the plan would not only benefit the conurbation during the summer but would give long term benefits as well. Number of different operations across the conurbation – prioritise areas where there is an influx in demand. This would enable the Council to have a good bottom-up, resource-based view on what the area would need next year.

·       In response to a request it was noted that there would be a mechanism in place to help keep all Councillors informed of issues surrounding the plan as necessary but could not commit to issuing this on a weekly basis.

·       Timing of certain issues and responsiveness to the weather had been factored into the plan and timing of when issues changed and developed. Particular anti-social and alcohol related behaviours and the likely timing of these were also anticipated and the police had been working alongside the Council on this.

·       How residents or anyone visiting the beach could report issues and the responsiveness to issues raised. There was a reporting mechanisms in place and information would be in a prominent place in time for the summer season.

·       A Councillor commented that they were pleased to see detail in the plan and asked how the general maintenance would be managed including toilet supplies, blocked drains etc. The Portfolio Holder advised that this was difficult to manage when visitor numbers were high but there were responses in place and the officers were dedicated in undertaking a sometime dirty, hazardous role, sometimes under provocation.

·       It was noted that the toilets on Poole Quay remained closed and there had been an issue with compliance and enforcement on the planning condition regarding these. The Chairman advised the Board that he would write to the planning enforcement team regarding the issue of the closed toilets at Poole Quay.

·       A Councillor commented that the reasons bins had overflowed was that the Council’s response to emptying them when full was not quick enough and that was due to a financial decision to not run as many collections.

·       A non-Board member commented that the Council needed to also focus on other areas of the conurbation which were frequented by tourists, not just on the beach but areas where people tend to go when weather is less than good.

·       A Councillor commented that there were pleased to see the recognition from the MHCLG of the best practice element and was pleased to see Christchurch developing as a major seafront site.

The Chairman thanked the Portfolio Holder and Officers for outlining the very robust plan and wished the team luck in its implementation.